I’m a sucker for field guides. The more, the merrier. This one is a bit different than the others, though. For one thing, this field guide focuses on only one animal – and a mammal, at that. Plus, it highlights superpowers.
Who knew beavers have superpowers? Obviously Rachel Poloquin – and she gets right to them early in the book For example, beavers have chainsaw teeth! They have the incredible scuba head. They have paws of power. These powers – and more – make beavers true Wetlands Warriors!
But first: an announcement from our sponsor, the rodent family. Beavers, it turns out, have lots of relatives – from mice to porcupines. One thing they all have in common: ever-growing teeth. Beaver’s teeth are three inches long!. That’s what makes them super. And powerful.
For each superpower, Rachel gives us the low-down. For example, the super unstoppable fur. It might not stop a speeding bullet, but it can stop rain, snow, sleet… if it stopped dark of night, beavers would make perfect mail-deliverers. If you count the number of hairs in a square inch (and apparently scientists have done this), beavers have 100,000 hairs. You have only 1,000 hairs per square inch on your head.
Beavers are amazing architects, building dams and lodges that withstand the test of time. If you want to learn how to build a dam, Rachel offers step-by-step directions. Also instructions for how to build your own underwater lodge. All you need are teeth like chainsaws, paws of power, and a place to build.
There are tons of fun sidebars, facts and maps, and the occasional quiz (with answers, of course). Plus a final section highlighting how beavers help create wetlands. In fact, scientists are thinking of putting beavers to work as a watershed management tool, restoring wetlands in dry areas.
Head over to Archimedes Notebook for some cool links to how beavers are used in watershed management, and also another animal book review.
It’s STEM Friday! (STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
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